It’s been a busy time for our business-focused CDFIs. They’ve been posting record lending figures, helping more small firms than ever.
Category: News
Charities and social investment
With the current focus on growing and diversifying the social investment market, particularly in London and the South East, we may risk overlooking the particular experience of charities in taking social investment. ‘Charities and Social Investment’ , a report commissioned by the Charity Commission for England and Wales from the Institute for Voluntary Action Research and written by Leila Baker and Niamh Goggin, provides an insight into the barriers and risks facing charities receiving social investment. Continue reading
At the vanguard of a new kind of economics
Community Economics is a model that harnesses the skills, knowledge and capability present in all communities; it has the potential to bridge the gap between rich and poor that current, free market economics create, and that we know is failing an increasing percentage of the population denied access to the finance needed to create jobs, opportunity and capability. Continue reading
Put your money on the high street
Our high streets don’t look like they once did. They’re now full of bookmakers, pawn shops and payday lenders. Continue reading
Banking the unbankable
More and more firms are slipping into the category of ‘the unbankable’. But there is light – and money – at the end of the tunnel for these businesses. Continue reading
My Home Finance wins Responsible Lender of the Year
Congratulations to CDFA member My Home Finance which won Responsible Lender of the Year at the recent Credit Today Awards. Continue reading
Time to get ruthless?
Banks lend to the most profitable customers. CDFIs lend to customers that are seen as less-profitable, more-risky. They lend smaller amounts, they build relationships with customers and, in most cases, also provide support and advice. This could be giving money management advice to a customer, or helping a social enterprise with its business plan. It is these value added services that are a core part of the CDFI’s social mission, and a core reason why they are effective at helping enterprises and families.
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Ethical lending on the rise as bank lending falls
New research from the CDFA shows that demand for CDFI loans has doubled in the last two years and has now hit almost £1 billion. Continue reading
Families could save £2.1billion with ethical lenders
The seven million people currently using payday and doorstep lenders could save £2.1billion if they used ethical alternatives, according to new research released today. Community development finance institutions (CDFIs) are non-profit lenders that operate across the UK. Last year demand for their services more than doubled.
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Demand for non-bank business loans increases
Non-bank community lenders saw an increase in demand from businesses of 36% in the first quarter of 2013, according to the Community Finance Monitor survey. This bucks the trend reported in today’s Bank of England Trends in Lending report, which says demand for bank credit remained weak in quarter one, and that demand from small businesses fell. Continue reading